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Residential towers of Dubai Marina at dusk, part of the freehold market where rental contracts are on course for a new annual record (Image: Supplied)Dubai, UAE - Dubai’s real estate market recorded another strong month of rental activity in October to stay on course for a new annual record, according to a new report issued today.
The market analysis from fäm Properties says Dubai’s freehold areas recorded 44,841 rental contracts in October. New tenancy agreements increased by 3.8% year-on-year to 21,987, while renewals edged up 0.5% to 22,854.
The October figures bring freehold rental registrations for the first ten months of 2026 to 339,557, 6.8% ahead of the corresponding period last year. With two months remaining, Dubai is firmly positioned to surpass the annual record of 377,976 contracts set in 2025.
Meanwhile, data from DXBinteract shows that the market delivered 11,974 sales transactions valued at $9.53 billion (AED 35.01 billion) last month, an 18% MoM increase in value and up 5.4% MoM in volume.
Off-plan purchases continued to account for the larger share of activity, with 7,609 transactions worth $5.23 billion (AED 19.2 billion), against 4,289 resale transactions valued at $4.25 billion (AED 15.6 billion).
Dubai South maintained its position as the leading location for off-plan sales for an eighth consecutive month, with 720 transactions valued at $243.6 million (AED 894.6 million).
Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties, said: “The rental figures show that demand for homes in Dubai continues to hold up well, with new contracts and renewals both increasing year-on-year. At the same time, the continued preference for off-plan purchases reflects buyers’ confidence in the market’s longer-term prospects.”
October recorded 8,888 apartment sales worth $4.22 billion (AED 15.5 billion), as well as 1,356 villa sales worth $2.48 billion (AED 9.1 billion), a 62% MoM increase in volume. Plot sales were up 92.7% MoM to 449 valued at $1.61 billion (AED 5.9 billion), and townhouse sales also rose MoM by 8% to 649 at $544.6 million (AED 2 billion). There were 540 commercial transactions, including offices and shops, worth $626.3 million (AED 2.3 billion).
The most expensive apartment sold in October went for $15.8 million (AED 58 million) at Silena Building B, Dubai Islands, while the most expensive villa fetched $26.4 million (AED 97 million) at Eden Hills.
Properties priced below $544,600 (AED 2 million) accounted for almost two-thirds of October sales, with 30.6% below $272,300 (AED 1 million) and 33.1% between $272,300 (AED 1 million) and $544,600 (AED 2 million). A further 14.7% were priced between $544,600 (AED 2 million) and $816,900 (AED 3 million), 11% between $816,900 (AED 3 million) and $1.36 million (AED 5 million), and 10.4% above $1.36 million (AED 5 million).
Al Warsan First was Dubai’s most active freehold rental location during the first ten months of 2026, recording 29,701 tenancy contracts. One-bedroom apartments continued to represent the largest share of rental activity, accounting for 138,836 contracts, 41% of the total.
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